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Monday, February 05, 2007

“Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!” (Psalm 73:18-19)

We are thankful to God for His patience, for indeed, “The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” (Psalm 145:8). Unfortunately the patience and longsuffering of God has been misinterpreted by some to be non-existence. Brian "Sapient" is one of the new, bolder atheists, in the proud and arrogant mold of Richard Dawkins. In fervent evangelistic zeal, Brian has issued a Blasphemy Challenge, especially targeting teens, in an attempt to get fellow atheists to “come out of the closet”.

It takes an especially confident infidel to present such a challenge. Per Mark 3:29, the costs of being wrong are great.

Do Brian or Kelly worry their rhetoric and antics might land them in hell?

"No, because hell doesn't exist," Kelly says.

Even if there was a one in a million shot that Hell existed, would they still be so unconcerned?

Brian's response? "That would stink, huh?"

I am optimistic that such a movement by these militant atheists will cause the church to return to Biblical preaching and faithful theological studies, realizing that the silly games they play won’t cut it anymore. However, from the other perspective, one has to wonder why this is referred to as a “challenge”, like it is some sort of sporting event or reality TV show. What exactly is the challenge? Can they prove that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is forgivable in the next life? Will they offer evidence for these assertions? Do they intend to prove, after death, that they are not in Hell? They set their mouths against heaven, and give testimony of their own folly at the risk of their own soul. Indeed, their eyes have been blinded, as they have considered not their end.

O foolish humanist! Why will you hate your own soul? Though you may boastfully attempt to raise yourself above the throne of the God of Heaven, your pride is a chain that binds you into outer darkness. Though you may have thoughts of clothing yourself with resolution and firmness of mind, your courage will be as that of an infant when God’s wrath approaches. What will you do then? To whom will you appeal when the Most High laughs at your calamity, and mocks when your terror comes? Can your hands be strong when God thrusts you into everlasting torment? Repent, and flee from the wrath to come. Blasphemy is NOT a game.